Kemi Sámi was a Sámi language that was originally spoken in the southernmost district of Finnish Lapland as far south as the Sámi siidas around Kuusamo.
A complex of local variants which had a distinct identity from other Sámi dialects, but existed in a linguistic continuum between Inari Sámi and Skolt Sámi (some Kemi groups sounded more like Inari, and some more like Skolt, due to geographic proximity).
Extinct now for over 100 years,
Sample texts
The following translation of the Lord's Prayer still survives, recorded in the Sompio dialect:
Lord's Prayer, village of Sompio (Sodankylä)
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This is Sirma's first poem, "Guldnasas", a Sámi love story which he sang to spur on his reindeer so that they will run faster:
<blockquote>
{| border="1" cellspacing="0"
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|Kemi Sámi||Swedish||English
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|valign="top"|<br />
|valign="top"|<br />
|VALIGN="top"|Kulnasatj, my little cow!<br />
It is time for us to travel,<br />
to leave for the northern forest,<br />
to hurry over great bogs,<br />
to travel to the home of the admirable.<br />
Do not detain me long, Kajgavare,<br />
farewell, Kälvejaure!<br />
Many thoughts are on my mind,<br />
when I travel on Kaiga bay.<br />
Hurry now swift one, my cow,<br />
so that before that we may be on time<br />
at that which Sarak sent,<br />
the fate intended for me.<br />
Alas, that soon I saw her,<br />
let me look at my darling!<br />
Kulnasatj, my little cow,<br />
do you see her eyes now?<br />
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|colspan="3"|<small>Swedish translation by Björn Collinder.